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Vegetable Gardening

Broccoli or Collards?

12 years ago

I did a DUMB thing this summer. I started collard seeds one week and then broccoli the next. I thought I could remember which flat was which, so I did not put labels on the flats. DUMB. The plants are virtually identical.

I noticed today that one type has serrated leaves on the new leaves coming up in the center of the plant. The other has all smooth edges. Could someone look at your labelled ones and tell me which is which?

I would so appreciate it!

Featured Answer

Sandina Rice

4 years ago

Omg,So funny I did the same thing I thought I would remember and last week I made a big pot of greens so I thought. actually it was broccoli leaves because now I can see the head of the broccoli ha ha

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Comments (10)

homegro
12 years ago
I believe the ones with all smooth edges are broccoli. I don't have labelled ones, but I don't neet to.
feijoas
12 years ago
Just to complicate things, broccoli I've grown has 'wiggly' leaves, rather than serrated, while collards are always smooth.
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Donna
Original Author
12 years ago
LOL! It's the smaller, new, inner leaves that are different. The outer leaves are identical. Anyone?
nygardener
12 years ago
The leaves of my broccoli seedlings have more-serrated edges and are more elongated than my collards. The collards are rounder and have smoother edges.
farmerdill
12 years ago
To be honest I can't tell the differnce when they are young. On the positive side, they are similar size plants with very similar growing requirements so you can interplant them with no problem.
Collard {{gwi:112997}}
Broccoli {{gwi:50461}}
Donna
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks to each one of you. I found a picture of Champion Collards (the type I planted) on the web that I believe showed the inner leaves with serrated edges. But with the conflicting information from all of you, I guess I'll have to wait until the broccoli heads up to know for certain. Anybody ever eat broccoli leaves?? Thanks again for responding, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Now you all have my permission to have a good laugh at such a rookie mistake from someone with 25 years of gardening experience; though only 2 with collards and none with broccoli. Who knew?
nygardener
12 years ago
Post pictures and we may be able to guess. Otherwise, you'll find out soon enough!

Broccoli leaves taste pretty good. Like mild kale. Kind of like ... collards.
suddensam
12 years ago
Donnabaskets,
In 1983 I decided to grow collards on a larger scale, enough for a few of my friends and myself to have a big mess for turkey day and Christmas. Wellllllllllllllll we had a little party and everyone took home enough collards for there familys turkey day, every one including myself thought they were the best collards ever. The darnest thing tho 3-4 weeks later every plant started growing the strangest growth out of the center, Yep I had 60 heads of broc to eat and give away. Young broc plants are every bit as good as collards. Now I add broc leafs to the collards because I like em. Try it, its good if you eat them while there still young.
Plant em if you got em.
Sam
Donna
Original Author
12 years ago
How about that? This story just gets better and better!

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